Aspire to Inspire: Michael Matthews Story

[TomIsaacson]

I thought I would share a link to this video that takes you through the the life of one of my best friends.

2 years ago I met Michael at the Magic Apple in Studio City- he wasn't part of the "magic scene" but he loved magic and was heavily into photography and film making. His physical appearance was evident that he had some sort of treatment that he was undergoing. Come to find out he was just in remission from a few months of intensive chemotherapy. He had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma earlier that year.

Somebody my age- just like me- that had their whole future, hopes and health in front of them; and it was almost taken away. He had fought it hard- and was just out of the hospital when I first met him. That was October 31st, 2007. That was also the day I went home, started playing with my "Hundy" packet- and came up with Prophet. We stayed close for a while- always working on new ideas, filming, hitting the clubs- watchin him pick up girls like nobodies business.

Toward the beginning of the summer he started to disappear from the radar. He was busy with projects from what I knew- but ever slow slowly he was out of contact. It wasn't until the end of September that I found out what happened. Less than a year after he had been released, the cancer came back. And this time it was worse. He was hospitalized again, had a list of ungodly amount of medical procedures performed to keep him alive.

He called me up to meet for sushi to tell me the story. He's not the kind of person to seek sympathy or petty feelings for the stuff he was going through- he didn't want to bother the world with his disease. He didn't want his problem to bring other people down. While that's a remarkably humble trait to find in someone who has undergone such an ordeal, I knew part of it was that he didn't want to be seen in his weakest state.

But sometimes its in our weakest that we find strength and others can find it too.

http://media.theory11.com/2590

TI

[Andrei]

Amazing story. It's really touching and amazingly powerful. Michael seems like a very talented magician and I hope all goes well, best of wishes man.

-Andrei Jikh

[j.bayme]

Speechless. It's stuff like this that - from time to time - reminds us why we do magic to begin with. This video did that for me - truly special thanks to Michael for allowing us to post this tonight and to TI for sharing the story. Wow.

[romeo sierra]

So inspiring. I wish I could say more, but the video really says it all, I think.

RS.

[Aron Prins]

So inspiring. I wish I could say more, but the video really says it all, I think.

RS.

What an amazing story. All comments above are true, and i tottally agree with them.
I was hospitilized myself, and without a a doubt it was magic that got my through.

Seeing all the children's faces when they saw the spongeball appear in their hand...
THats magic!

Take care!
Aron Prins

[krazytim]

Thanks for sharing the story and video Tom.

I wish the best for Michael.

[ChelseaWzx]

wishes……
everything will be better

[reverhart]

Outstanding story and glad it was shared with me. Nice way to start my day at work and remind me of the little things in life that we all take for granted.

I wish the best as well.

[chriswiehl]

cant wait to watch. im in class now and i dont have headphones. but im looking forward to it

[SHANE BLACK]

Glad to see you pull through your hard times and find the want inside to live and watch you now getting the most out of life. Inspired me good luck in life brother. Peace!